Dublin progressed to the Leinster SFC semi-finals on Sunday following a hard-fought 2-21 to 0-18 victory over Wicklow in Aughrim.
In what was close to a full house at Echelon Park, the Dubs did enough to pull away in the second half against a spirited Wicklow side.
Con O'Callaghan began the scoring after he found open grass on the stand side in what was pleasant summer weather.
Two wides followed from Wicklow as they looked to settle into the contest before Oisin McGraynor nailed an in-swinger off his left boot to level things.
Colm Basquel, Ciaran Kilkenny, Niall Scully and Ross McGarry all added points, with a Wicklow free and a Kevin Quinn two-pointer leaving the sides all square midway through the first half.
Both teams enjoyed long spells of possession outside the arc but it was Dublin who were more efficient with their chances, only kicking one wide to Wicklow's first-half haul of six.
The big difference between the sides proved to be Dublin’s ability to get goals. Niall Scully's net-buster was the first of two big scores in the game; he pulled on a loose ball to lash it past Mark Jackson from around the 13-yard line.
Dean Healey landed an audacious two-pointer with the outside of his right boot in response but minutes later Basquel found himself fouled in a forest of bodies in the Wicklow square. A penalty was awarded. From the spot, O’Callaghan fired a bullet to the left corner but Jackson managed to get a hand to it only for O’Callaghan to finish the rebound.
Oisin McGraynor managed a further two-pointer before the break to leave the half-time score 2-09 to 0-11 at the break.
In the second half with the wind at their backs, Dublin began to pick off scores with a greater ease.
Greg McEneaney and Basquel got them moving in between a Tom Lahiff two-pointer. Wicklow hit back with Paddy O’Keane and Darragh Fee pointing, however a Joe Prendergast goal effort that went just over the crossbar and wides from Kevin Quinn and Chris O’Brien proved costly.
Dublin looked to have weathered the Wicklow storm. O’Callaghan landed three scors, while substitutes Killian McGinnis and Paddy Small chipped in with one a piece.
Padraig O’Toole kicked over a snapshot following two solo efforts from Dean Healy to finish what was a fighting display from the Garden County men.
A further two two-pointers from O’Callaghan capped off a fine personal display as Dublin progress to the last four. Wicklow will continue their championship in the Tailteann Cup.
Wicklow: Mark Jackosn; Tom Moran, Craig Maguire, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast (0-01), Patrick O’Keane (0-01), Matt Nolan; Dean Healy (0-04, 1tp), Jack Kirwan; John Paul Nolan, Pádraig O’Toole (0-01), Darragh Fee (0-01); Oisin McGraynor (0-05, 1tp, 1f), Kevin Quinn (0-03, 1tp), Mark Kenny (0-02, 1tp).
Subs: C O’Brien for J Kirwan (45), G Fogarthy for P O’Keane (64), C Fee for M Kenny (65), L O’Neill for J Nolan (69), C Baker for C Maguire (69).
Dublin: Hugh O’Sullivan; David Byrne, Theo Clancy, Conor Tyrell; Brian Howard, Greg McEneaney (0-01), Sean Macmahon; Peadar O’Cofaigh Byrne, Tom Lahiff (0-03, 1tp); Niall Scully (1-01), Sean Bugler (0-02), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-03); Ross McGarry, Con O’Callaghan (1-07, 1tp, 1f), Colm Basquel (0-02).
Subs: P Small (0-01) for G Mceaney (50), K Mcginnis (0-01) for T Lahiff (50), L O’Dell for R McGarry (56), J Madden for N Scully (61), N Doran for B Howard (68).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)
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